Stock-car.



PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

C. W. MCKBEHEN.

STOCK CAR.

APPLICATION HLBD JAN.16, 1905.

2 SHEEES-SHBET 1.

No. 823,890. PATENTED .TUNE 19, 1906. C. W. MUKEBHEN.

STOCK CAR.

APPLICATION FILED JANJG, 190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/Z C". W. WIKezm witnesses @Mm/wf l@ hw CHARLES WALTER MGKEEHEN,

OF RICHARDS, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

STOCK-OAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 19, 1906.

Application filed January 16, 1905. Serial No. 241,298.

T0 all whom it man concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES WALTER Mc- KEEHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richards, in the county of Comanche and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stock- Oars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stock-cars such as are provided with vestibule arrangements by means of which all the cars of a train may be thrown into communication with each other for convenience in loading cattle, it being understood that the cattle are loaded into one car and are driven through the train until all of the cars are loaded, thus preventing the necessity of loading each car separately and of moving the entire train when one car is loaded in order to bring the next car into position opposite the cattle-chute.

The objects of the present invention are to improve and simplify the construction of such cattle-cars.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details `of construction hereinafter described and claimed as a practical embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the adjoining ends of a pair of cars equipped with the improvements of the present invention, the truckwheels and track being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of the cars. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the platforms. Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

The cars A and B may be of any suitable form and construction. Each of the cars is provided at its end with a door-frame 1, having side bars 2 3. Hinged to each of the side bars 2 and 3 of the door-frame is a door 4, the two doors of each car being adapted to be locked by any suitable mechanism, such as 5. Each of the doors 4 is provided with a horizontal rod 6, from which is suspended a hook member 7. When the two cars are arranged in vestibule order, the doors are opened an the hook members 7 of one pair of doors are engaged with the rods 6 of the pair of doors on the adjacent car. By providing a connection of this character relative movement between the cars is permitted without danger of breaking or straining the doors.

The side bars 2 and 3 of the door-frame are provided with lower vertical slots 8 and with upper vertical slots 9. The lower vertical slots 8 of the side bars 2 and 3 preferably are undercut or made wider at the inner portion than at the outer portion thereof in any suitable manner to receive the large head 1() of a bolt 11, which fits loosely into a slot 12 in a corner-bracket 13, attached to` the platform 14. T he bolt 11 is provided inside the cornerbracket 13 with an enlarged head 15. By providinfT a communication of the character described` the platform 14 of each car is permitted to move in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane, the horizontal movement being necessary in order to permit relative movement between the cars and the vertical movement being necessary in order to permit one platform to lie upon the top of the platform of the adjacent car, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The platform 14 at each of its forward or free corners is provided with a locking device 16, which preferably is in the form of a sliding bolt 17. When the cars of a train are thrown into communication with each other, the platforms 14 are let down and the locking devices 16 of the platform on one car are engaged with the vertical slots 8 in the door -frame of the adjoining car, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. When the doors atthe ends of the cars are closed, the platforms 14 are hoisted into vertical position and the locking devices are engaged with the upper vertical slots 9 of the door-frames.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that each of the platforms 14 at its point of pivotal connection with the doorframe of the car is capable of vertical as well as horizontal movement.

In its particular combination and arrangement of parts and in its details of construction the arrangement of this invention presents a strong, simple, durable, and inexpensive improvement over prior arrangements intended for a similar purpose.

It will be understood that the cars and the improvements with which they are equipped ma be constructed of any suitable material an of any desired dimensions.

Changes in the precise embodiment of invention illustrated and described ma be made within the scope of the following c aims IOO IIO

without departing from the spirit of the inl vention or sacriiioing any of its advantages.

.Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A vestibule stock-oar having a platform pivotally connected with the end thereof, said platform at its point of pivotal connection with the car being capable of vertical and horizontal movement.

2. A car having a door-frame provided with side bars having upper andV lower` vertical slots, a platform having slottedL cornerbraekets, bolts engaging the slotted cornerbraokets and the lower vertical slots of the side bars, and locking devicesv on the free ends l of the platform.

3. A oar having doors horizontal bars oonnected therewith, and hook members conneoted with said bars, the hook members on the doors of one car being adapted to engage the horizontal bars in the doors of another oar.

In testimony whereof I afEX my signature lin presence of two witnesses. e

CHARLES WALTER Morrill-IEN.

l Witnesses:

LILLIAN SUTTON MGKEEHEN, J OHN SUTTON. 

